Social Media Reporter - A.K.A Me

My name is Varun. Varun means the sea. It is not a coincidence that I stay right opposite the sea in Mumbai. I love cracking jokes, making people smile, dreaming to become an actor someday, but for now, I work in an ad agency and some people refer to me as the trending star. I don't let it get to me much, because I know there's so much more I can do...

Why should I be a social media reporter for the Nokia social media week? Well for starters, I really need a vacation. I'm honest too. But if I get to meet amazing people, hear fantastic people speak and do my job, which is basically reporting events in the most fun and entertaining way, well, I would never complaint about anything in life. Professionally, apart from handling social media for some of the biggest brands, I have also been a Bollywood reporter for Times of India's hot selling tabloid Mumbai Mirror.

A little of boasting, I have handled some of the coolest brands in India right from luxury automobile brands to fastest selling FMCG brands & have all seen week long national trending (sometimes worldwide) under my management. I love social media. I think it's a revolution and my favourite medium is twitter.

I really want to be a part of the Nokia Social Media Week because I know I am going to be kickass because when you love what you do, it not a job anymore, it's passion.

Don't keep me away from mine, please! :D

Bodyguard

I had just returned back from FTII, Pune as I did not get through the acting course out there. In spite of reaching the third and the last round, I could not make it. But I was not disappointed at all and felt I'd rather do something equally productive out here in Mumbai and I felt I should complete my Masters too.

It was December'11 and I was looking out for some freelance opportunities as the entrance for XIC was going to begin in April. One day, I randomly get a call from a friend asking whether I'd be interested to assist somebody in Casting. Well, I myself must have happened to go for infinite auditions but taking auditions myself? I felt it would be a nice way to understand what a Casting Director expects from an Actor.

So I agreed to meet upon the casting director and he said I am on board for the movie called - Bodyguard starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor. I was delighted and super excited. We began casting for the first schedule of the film. I began calling a few coordinators who use to call me for auditions to brief them about the various roles and if they could provide us with few actors. Suddenly, their tone used to change and some of them even began calling me 'Sir'. Yup I guess that's because the tables changed and I was the one who had to take a call. So I conducted vigorous auditions for several days until one day morning I left for Symbiosis College, Pune where the shooting was scheduled for. I met almost everyone from the cast and the crew and got friendly with them.

Day1: We left for the sets and what I happen to see????????? Salman Bhai is on the sets already. It was around 8.30am, he was before time and resting. His bodyguards were massaging him and a huge table of food was kept near his van. I couldn't believe my eyes. His Bodgyguards gave you that 'look-straight and walk' if you tried staring at him for too long. Days passed by and I got back to Mumbai and got busy with college and one fine day my casting director calls me for a special screening of the movie before its release.

I am sitting in the preview hall with close cast and crew of the film and of course we all loved the film and the credits are rolling over and hey wait - Casting Assistant - Varun Wazir. Wohooo that's me. I jumped out of joy. I frankly hadn't expected that. I ran to my casting director to thank him from all my heart. Yeah, it should have been Vazir but Wazir is fine too. :) I did feel like a big achievement and reminded myself to see that name with spelling corrections in the credits for Starring in -

My first copy for an Ad!

It was the month of May-June'12 as I had just begun my stint in Advertising as a Social Media Executive in Creativeland Asia and was like a new born baby who was scared to keep my foot anywhere. While I was figuring out my job profile, work etc I loved to hear new offline briefs and hear them brainstorm over ideas and it really fascinated me. My love for writing began while I started working at JAM magazine and though I was writing 'POSTS' for Facebook and Twitter, I wanted to write something for an offline medium.

One day I overheard my colleagues discussing some stuff over the brand - Appy Fizz. Honestly, I quite liked the copy which was lately written for Appy Fizz. I felt it quite suited my style of writing as I had a column in JAM called - Line By Line where I used to crack such one liners. So, I went up to a copywriter and asked him if I could contribute or rather help him if he gets too many briefs. He happily agreed and asked me to write few lines for Facebook to which I happily agreed and began thinking all the possible one liners I could. I sent him once, he liked few but did not use any. I sent him again, I doubt if he used that as well. Finally, one day he walks up to me and says, "Ek line sochna...Pasman restaurant ke liye. Yeh line delivery tray ke upar aayegi". I was delighted and this time I had to crack it.

I wrote, wrote and kept writing. I must have written at least 20+ lines out of which I really liked one and said "Ho gaya boss. You've cracked it". That left me quite happy and I left smiling from office that day. Days passed and I wanted to see how it actually got executed and out of curiosity I asked the client servicing guy if that line got executed. He said yes here it is and sent me a sample image.

Here's my first line as a Copywriter that got executed for Pasman restaurants in Pune.

Capture!

Working in an Ad agency hardly leaves any free time but whenever I do, I play with my new canon 550D which needs much more attention what it get is getting currently. Still learning, so would love to hear your honest opinions about my clicks!

Starring in

I've been auditioning for quite some time now. I know how big a struggle it is. Made a couple of good friends during this struggle. Its been sweet and sour both. well, I guess that's coz my life is in a soup. lol. jokes apart. I see many of my co-strugglers as you may call it getting various projects and i am still doing short films and theatre.
one day I was out with my friends and got a call from an unknown number.  One truth about actors- Being an aspiring actor, each unknown number/call is like super duper important for you and you feel OMG some casting director must be calling me. hehe. that's true. anyway, so it wasn't something new. I have received many such calls before saying you've been shortlisted blah blah..but this one was different.

His name was Kosti and he is like I am a casting director for a new show on Disney and I've seen your audition and would want to cast you as one of the important characters in one of the episodes. Would you be interested. I couldn't believe that I was actually selected because of some of my previous auditions, which means no auditions go waste. I am delighted when he said we are shooting in a couple of days.

I was super excited during the first day of the shoot. the feeling of entering the sets is similar to the feeling of being on stage. well, almost the same. everyone around was like yes sir. come sir. sit sir.

Then the costume guys come in, make up, spot boys, chai-coffee and finally the A.D - with the script...it took me no time to rehearse and the worst part is when you are ready with lines but having to wait till your shot is ready. Since it was for Disney, I had to do a lot of over the top acting which naturally comes to me :p.
The first day ended well and we shot about 2 scenes..and got to know that I will be having 2-3 more days of shoot. I was delighted and couldn't wait for the episode to go on air.

Well, the show is called - The Suite Life of Karan and Kabir and airs on Disney every Sunday at 10am. It went on air recently and I somehow happen to miss the episode. I was desperately waiting for that moment. but no regrets, i finally happen to see somebody having to uploaded my episode on you tube and was overjoyed.

Do watch this episode and give me your feedback! thanks...

First Day @ Work

It's 2nd may, Wednesday, 2012, 7 am. I've just woken up to get ready for first day at work. I made an alarm for 7.03 am and eyes open at 7.02am. Quite a coincidence. In fact, I did not sleep the earlier night. don't know why. A feeling of a new beginning, new chapter of life that I was waiting to explore. A lot of butterflies in tummy as to if I have made the right choice. yeah, there were about 6 other agencies that I had to opt from, but I opted for Creativeland Asia. then there were some other thoughts, that what about acting? well, that will continue :).

So I enter office at 8.15am for a 8.30am call time. People start pouring in and I begin to feel more nervous. everyone looks at me and gives me that trying-to-be-sweet-smile and i smile back out of courtesy. Yeah i am a lil lost. I am figuring out a place to sit - temporary. finally find some desk at one corner. then the HR calls me to finish off some pending work. I am made to fill few basic details about myself,likes,interests,hobbies etc and mailed it to all the staff in CLA, that makes me more nervous. phewww. the moment she pressed SEND button. I took a deap breathe, hope people like what I've written.

Its 10.30am I am sitting completely idle writing this post. In the mean while, the HR calls me for the remaining legal formalities. I've got my official email id..Yayy :D. It's around 12pm, my tummy is making weird noises and i feel very hungry but where do I go and eat my dabba??? whom should I ask? I don't even know where the loo is. I should open up. yes I should.
Finally I ask my neighbor- Darshan who is a designer. He is quite friendly and guides me through the pantry. Guess what I see there? whole lot of food. there's a coffee vending machine and we also get green tea. wohooo. There are cornflakes, chocos, oats, etc etc for us as we report to office so early. that's good yaar.

In between, I am on facebook watching people's wishes pouring in. Glad to know so many people care about me. :).

The HR comes in again and this time there are 2 more girls with her (Interns). The HR makes me have a tour of the entire office and made me meet people from each department.

time is passing by. I am missing home already. then there are these thoughts in my head like 'why do we have to work, office, home, gym, home, money, struggle, challenge'. phewwwww

I felt as if I am Mr.India, people around me did not notice and were so engrossed in their own work. People come next to my desk, I give them that innocent smile that *look at me dammit, i exist. actually the more appropriate look was, puppy face look with emotions like 'I've just joined in today.I do not bite. nor do I look scary. Don't avoid me. PLEASE.'* well, anyways. nor was it that I was dying for attention.

I asked for work but few people said 'enjoy your honeymoon period. it's your first day so relax'. In fact, I collected all the various innovations and case studies of a few brands and began studying it and got so engrossed in it that did not realize that its 5.30 and time to flee away.

I reached home around 6.30 and the joy of entering home that day was a bliss. Feel more matured and responsible and you may call me a -office going boy.


P.S. Coincidentally my Boss's name is SRK...yes. don't believe me? Sajan Raj Kurup....I think kuch toh connection zaroor hai boss. Dekhte hai aage kya hota hai ;)

Rickshaw strike

it's a scorching monday morning, i am sitting idle at home forwarding my resume like bulk sms's...lol...apparently today is also auto-rickshaw strike...this is what i did out of boredom.

* please watch the below image on your own risk